I have a reel-to-reel tape labelled "New Riders of the Purple Sage and Greatful Dead, Concert, Nov. 20, 1971, Pauley Pavilion, UCLA. Recording Engineer: John Batchelder and KMET; Editing: Alan Coltri."

Those two guys were friends of mine and fellow students at CalTech (Blacker House). This recording is, for me, the best recording of many of their songs, better than what was sold as "albums". I can tell that the recording here is authentic because of the false start on the lyrics of Sugar Magnolia.

where can i get this show?

i used to have the section truckin->nfa on cassette labeled as hollywood bowl 6/17/72...in fact the show labeled here as that date has an identical setlist for that section, and is the same show, note for note, but cuts off a few minutes into nfa...both shows in LA...i wonder which one is correct...on this recording and on my cassette there was an announcer which leads me to believe it is a radio simulcast recording

either way, a really good show...tight, energetic, inspired playing, especially from newcomer godchaux who must have been trying to impress...amazing how well he played when he wasn't nodding out on the piano

I just read an interesting interview in Tape Op Mag. with sound Guru Bob Heil (he invented the Talkbox..think Peter Frampton).
Bob mentions that he got his big break when The Grateful Dead contacted him after Owsley was arrested (and all the gear confiscated) by the FBI.
He provided the Dead with what was, at the time, the very, very best stage sound & gear that was available (Heil & Co had personally hand built all the equip.)

Anyway, if you notice a giant sonic LEAP in the Grateful Dead's live shows, you're right. Technology makes a huge difference. Yes, they were playing really well together, obviously. Although I think that a major reason for this is the Bob Heil contribution. I'm glad he is in the Hall-o-Fame.

Great show!

Can't agree with you more oh-uh-um-ah, August at Hollywood Palladium, capacity 4,000. Three and a half months later, Pauley Pavilion seating at over 13,000 and that's not accounting for the "festival style" seating (no seat) on the basketball court numbering, how many??? My second show. Surely had more of a "produced" feel to the show. "Official" vendors and promoters security. Still loved every second of it. Snaked my way to the stage front. Began learning concert "survival and comfort" techniques.

The November 1971 GRATEFUL DEAD is much different than the April 1971 GRATEFUL DEAD.

The GRATEFUL DEAD started movin' on to the next page or maybe another book and you can hear it in this show.

Not the most crisp recording, but it's in stereo and the mix is fine. The performance is tight and orchestrated, a timed show no doubt.

The birth of the Stadium GRATEFUL DEAD.

It's not bad, but no Alligator, No Lovelight, No Pigpen.

Bands are like recipes, change an ingredient (musician) and the whole flavor (sound) changes...

The money started kickin' in and money changes everything. From Counter Culture Anarchists to Capitalists with Stock Portfolios it was over just like that. The FAME, FORTUNE AND CONQUEST was about to begin...The JBL WALL OF SOUND...was unleashed and no one had ever heard or seen anything like it...we had no chance.

Eat, Drink Be Merry and Listen to the GRATEFUL DEAD.

Thanks for the love.

this is a very nice job by the person that refined this little GEM OF A SHOW -- this version SOUNDS AWESOME!!!!!!


not just SBD, this is like, Studio Clarity. great tone and separation. you can really hear the timbre of each instrument against the whole -- just a gorgeous recording. THANKS ...... (never mind a patch here and there)


oh and they played SOME MUSIC TOO! everything is POPPIN! and the two jams, truckin>OO, and NFA>GDTRFB>NFA are just a big old peanut butter banana slide across the windmills of you mind my people, purple purple potato eaters!